Be aware of how you feel. When you have a negative emotion, such
as anger, try to name what you're feeling. For example:That guy Ian
in my study group makes me so mad!I get so jealous
when I see that girl/guy with my ex.I feel afraid
whenever I have to walk past those bullies.

Don't hide how you feel from yourself. You might not want to
broadcast your feelings to other people (like your ex, for example, or that guy in
your study group who is making you mad). But don't suppress your feelings entirely.
Simply naming the feeling is a lot better than pretending not to have it — or
exploding without thinking.

Know why you feel the way you do. Figure out what happened that
got you feeling the way you do. For example:Whenever we do group
projects, Ian finds a way to take all the credit for other people's work.Our teacher thinks Ian's the star of the team, even though he never has his
own ideas.When I see my ex flirting with other people, it reminds
me that I still have feelings for him/her.Even though the bullies
don't pick on me, I see what they do to other people and it worries me.

Don't blame. Being able to recognize and explain your emotions
isn't the same as blaming someone or something for the way you feel. Your ex probably
isn't seeing someone new as a way to get back at you, and the guy who takes credit
for your work might not even realize what he is doing. How you feel when these things
happen comes from inside you. Your feelings are there for a reason —
to help you make sense of what's going on.

Accept all your emotions as natural and understandable. Don't
judge yourself for the emotions you feel. It's normal to feel them. Acknowledging
how you feel can help you move on, so don't be hard on yourself.

Step 2: Take Action

Once you've processed what you're feeling, you can decide if you need to express
your emotion. Sometimes it's enough to just realize how you feel, but other times
you'll want to do something to feel better.

Think about the best way to express your emotion. Is this a time
when you need to gently confront someone else? Talk over what you're feeling with
a friend? Or work off the feeling by going for a run? For example:It
won't solve anything to show my anger to Ian — it may even make him feel more
superior! But my feelings tell me that I need to avoid getting in another situation
where he takes control over a project.I'll hold my head high around
my ex, then I'll put on some sad songs and have a good cry in my room to help me release
my feelings and eventually let go.My fear of being around those bullies
is a sign that they have gone too far. Perhaps I should talk about what's going on
with a school counselor.

Learn how to change your mood. At a certain point, you'll want
to shift from a negative mood into a positive one. Otherwise your thinking may get
stuck on how bad things are, and that can drag you down into feeling worse. Try doing
things that make you happy, even if you don't feel like it at the time. For example,
you might not be in the mood to go out after a breakup, but going for a walk or watching
a funny movie with friends can lift you out of that negative space.

Build positive emotions. Positive feelings create a sense of
happiness and well being. Make it a habit to notice and focus on what's good in your
life — even the little things, like the praise your dad gave you for fixing
his bookshelves or how great the salad you made for lunch tastes. Noticing the good
things even when you're feeling bad can help you shift the emotional balance from
negative to positive.

Seek support. Talk about how you're feeling with a parent, trusted
adult, or a friend. They can help you explore your emotions and give you a fresh way
of thinking about things. And nothing helps you feel more understood and cared for
than the support of someone who loves you for who you are.

Exercise. Physical activity helps the brain produce natural chemicals
that promote a positive mood. Exercise also can release stress buildup and help you
from staying stuck on negative feelings.

Step 3: Get Help With Difficult Emotions

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can't shake a tough emotion. If you find
yourself stuck in feelings of sadness or worry for more than a couple of weeks, or
if you feel so upset that you think you might hurt yourself or other people, you may
need extra help.

Talk to a school counselor, parent, trusted adult, or therapist. Counselors and
therapists are trained to teach people how to break out of negative emotions. They
can provide lots of tips and ideas that will help you feel better.